U.S. Senate hopeful Earl Jackson called a news conference Thursday afternoon to announce he had secured the signatures needed to appear on the Republican Senate primary ballot in June.
And then he didn’t show up. He, did, however submit more than 11,188 signatures, state officials say.
Hampton Roads lawyer David McCormick failed to submit signatures by Thursday’s deadline. He did not return a call for comment. His representative did not submit a check or declaration of candidacy, so McCormick was disqualified, state officials said.
Candidates had until 5 p.m. to collect 10,000 signatures from across the state, including 400 from each of the state’s 11 congressional districts.
The state GOP will verify the signatures starting Friday morning. If they submit more than 15,000, the party will count the signatures but not verify each one.
Former Virginia governor and U.S. senator George Allen and tea party activist Jamie Radtke submitted signatures earlier this month. Del. Bob Marshall (Prince William) delivered his Wednesday. Former governor Tim Kaine is unopposed in the Demcoratic primary.
